“In the past two weeks since Hit and Run was published there have been calls for an independent inquiry from New Zealanders from all sides on the political spectrum. It is disappointing and concerning that Bill English has refused.”
“When the book came out Jon Stephenson and I emphasised that Bill English had no responsibility for the deeds done in 2010 and so was in a good position to offer aid to the Afghan villages and launch a proper inquiry. But he has joined the people trying to hide and dodge over what happened.”
“I believe this decision is the result of military pressure on the government: the tail wagging the dog. That is not good for the country.”
“Bill English is an experienced minister who knows the difference between being shown selective information by an interested party, as he has been by the defence force, and having an independent inquiry. This does not appear not a rational decision based on evidence; it is helping the military bureaucracy to avoid having to front up. It is the next step in the seven year cover up.”
“But, most of all, Bill English has just ensured that the issue will continue to boil and fester. It is not going to go away until it is properly addressed.”
9 years of these fuckers says National’s polling and subsequent focus grouping must have come in and it probably shows in the current climate of misinformation New Zealanders are indifferent.
Self preservation, always!
Bill doesn’t want to upset the armed forces that is what this is really about, remember it is election year.
Whilst the call will continue for an enquiry, we need to nail Little to ensure should they become the government that there will definitely be an enquiry.
Well done Bill.
Enough of this crap.
Great leadership.
Prime Minister Bill English slams the door shut on any enquiry relating to allegations made in the book “Hit and Run”.
http://m.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11830976
According to Bill English and Tim Keating, Nicky Hager and Jon Stephenson have no factual evidence to back their allegations.
9 insurgents were killed in the raid, instead of none as claimed in their book.
And according to the Prime Minister there is no evidence that civilians were killed.
In light of the Prime Minister’s claim, that the very serious allegations made against the NZDF, in the book “Hit and Run”, were made without evidence to back them up; will proceedings for defamation now be lodged in the courts by the NZDF and the government against Nicky Hager and Jon Stephenson?
If not, why not?
Will any of the so called journalists of the mainstream yellow press with access to the Prime Minister be asking the PM these hard questions?
“Bill English is an experienced minister who knows the difference between being shown selective information by an interested party, as he has been by the defence force, and having an independent inquiry.”
Indeed.
And although he comes across as being jus a but fuk, along wif bro Connor, it ain’t so your Honour as Your Honour already knows (going forward).
Intelligence and Stupidity never were mutually exclusive.
In my case, one of NZ’s highest scoring on the IQ test of the time came with an elder brother.
That brother came with the silliest of a criminal mind and the most stupid in terms of a sense of community and communal values.
I suspect the same is going to be true of an English or two – one of whom could now (realistically) end his legacy years trying to Bullshit his way out of something that is more substantial that a wet brown paper bag.
The Comer Keat Mattie Effect – could be the name of a fictional book – based on the cowardice of a trio of cowards riding on a wave of the bravery of some of their predecessors.
Ew. Sociologists and criminologists worth their trendy sea salt grinders plying a half salmon whilst supping a Martinborough lite, will in future reflect on all of this. My pick is that their commentary won’t be very pretty
Indeed.
And although he comes across as being jus a but fuk, along wif bro Connor, it ain’t so your Honour as Your Honour already knows (going forward).
Intelligence and Stupidity never were mutually exclusive.
In my case, one of NZ’s highest scoring on the IQ test of the time came with an elder brother.
That brother came with the silliest of a criminal mind and the most stupid in terms of a sense of community and communal values.
I suspect the same is going to be true of an English or two – one of whom could now (realistically) end his legacy years trying to Bullshit his way out of something that is more substantial that a wet brown paper bag.
The Comer Keat Mattie Effect – could be the name of a fictional book – based on the cowardice of a trio of cowards riding on a wave of the bravery of some of their predecessors.
Ew. Sociologists and criminologists worth their trendy sea salt grinders plying a half salmon whilst supping a Martinborough lite, will in future reflect on all of this. My pick is that their commentary won’t be very pretty
Prime Minister Bill English slams the door shut on any enquiry relating to allegations made in the book “Hit and Run”.
http://m.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11830976
According to Bill English and Tim Keating, Nicky Hager and Jon Stephenson have no factual evidence to back their allegations.
9 insurgents were killed in the raid, instead of none as claimed in their book.
And according to the Prime Minister there is no evidence that civilians were killed.
In light of the Prime Minister’s claim, that the very serious allegations made against the NZDF, in the book “Hit and Run”, were made without evidence to back them up; will proceedings for defamation now be lodged in the courts by the NZDF and the government against Nicky Hager and Jon Stephenson?
If not, why not?
Will any of the so called journalists of the mainstream yellow presswith access to the Prime Minister be asking the PM these hard questions?
“Bill English is an experienced minister who knows the difference between being shown selective information by an interested party, as he has been by the defence force, and having an independent inquiry.”
Indeed.
And although he comes across as being jus a but fuk, along wif bro Connor, it ain’t so your Honour, as Your Honour already knows (going forward).
Intelligence and Stupidity never were mutually exclusive.
In my family’s case, one of NZ’s highest scoring on the IQ test at the time came with an elder brother that hardly knew which way a spade was used to dig a hole.
That highly intelligent brother came with the silliest of a criminal mind and the most stupid in terms of a sense of community and communal values – almost what the royal ‘we’ might label a sociopath.
I suspect the same is going to be true of an English or two – one of whom could now (realistically) end his legacy years trying to Bullshit his way out of something that is more substantial that a wet brown paper bag.
The Comer Keating Mattiepurrie Effect – could be the name of a fictional book (I’d call it Polydent in deference to Jerr’s false teeth – through which he lies by way of silence) based on the cowardice of a trio of cowards riding on a wave of legend – based on the bravery of some of their predecessors but nothing remotely brave or ethical or honourable to do with the timelines of their own unsubstantial (compartively) careers.
Ew. Sociologists and criminologists worth their trendy sea salt grinders plying a half salmon whilst supping a Martinborough lite, will in future reflect on all of this. My pick is that their commentary won’t be very pretty.
It’s not a very good feeling to have once remembered our fallen and family on occasions such as ANZAC day, and to now have to consider the absolute cowardice both within NZDF leadership and their political masters.
Ew.
Surely to Christ I’m not alone in this thinking?
exkiwiforces? comments on TS regularly
I am surprised at the audacity of Bill English and his government, to simply rely on their soldiers, and even considering the head of defence as being “independent” in regards to his view of the matter described in ‘Hit and Run’.
My expectation was that they would conduct a white washing ‘inquiry’, but to not even bother with one, that now calls upon Deborah Manning and her lawyers to take the matter to the international courts.
By the way, some may have forgotten this story, some time back:
http://www.nickyhager.info/us-spy-agencies-eavesdrop-on-kiwi%c2%a0/
When it comes to Jon Stephenson, the NZDF is basically AT WAR with him, so no wonder we get the decisions that were presented to media and the public yesterday.
NZ Inc. is nothing much short of being banana republic material, in my honest humble opinion, nothing else.
Let us not forget, it is ELECTION YEAR, so the info that may be kept under tabs must be very explosive, hence they do what they do. It may also blemish former PM John Key’s reputation, and drag the Nats down in the polls.
So dear “media”, that is you who may still care, and have some time and resources, time to start some serious investigations, and leave the weather and disaster and crime reporting to some lower rank and file reporters, please.
Yes I agree with Mike in Auckland we won’t want to upset the apple cart in election year. Besmirching Key and the armed forces is a big no no.
‘The Bill English Deception’ it could be titled.
Why am i not surprised?
I didn’t know that the army told the government what to do.
Did we turn into a military dictatorship when daylight saving ended on Sunday without anyone knowing?
FAIL! 🙂
What qualifications do plumbers have to make that sort of assement?
I have no idea what you mean by plumbers, but surely they have as much right as anyone else to have an opinion.
What a snob to make a comment like that.
I worked with leather for most of my career so guess I don;t have a right to an opinion either.
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